Anthony Joshua's prospective bout with Wladimir Klitschko looks on the verge of completion, but roadblocks still remain to the fight being confirmed.
Speaking to Sky Sports, promoter Eddie Hearn says that the fight, which looks set to take place this December, has been agreed by both teams and all that remains is confirm that it will be for the WBA title.
"The deal is there but we are awaiting sanctioning from the WBA," Hearn said. "Both teams have written to the WBA to request sanctioning of our fight, but Wladimir wants the WBA belt to be on the line so until that is approved we cannot move forward.
"We expect news in the next few days, but in the meantime I believe both sides will look at alternative options for December 10 while we hope to get the news we need to make the fight happen."
Anthony Joshua beat Charles Martin to become IBF World Heavyweight champion in April this year. Image: Nick Potts PA Archive/PA Images
The fight has been in the pipeline for the past two weeks and looked even more likely to be made official after Tyson Fury vacated his heavyweight titles as he continues his recovery from depression.
Fury has also had his boxing license suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control pending further investigation into "anti-doping and medical issues".
"I won the titles in the ring and I believe that they should be lost in the ring but I’m unable to defend at this time and I have taken the hard and emotional decision to now officially vacate my treasured world titles and wish the next-in-line contenders all the very best as I now enter another big challenge in my life which I know, like against Klitschko, I will conquer," the 28-year-old said in a statement.
Fury added: "I feel that it is only fair and right and for the good of boxing to keep the titles active and allow the other contenders to fight for the vacant belts that I proudly won and held as the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world when I defeated the long-standing champion Wladimir Klitschko."
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